A healthy mind leads to good mental health. A good mental health is related to psychological well being.

Mental health conditions that adversely affect mood, behavior, thinking are called mental health illnesses or Mental Health Disorders.

Depression, Schizophrenia, Anxiety disorders, Mania, Addictions, sexual disorders are various kinds of mental health disorders commonly seen.

All age groups are affected by mental illness.

NO
Depression affects any person irrespective of one’s economical or physical condition.Studies show that one in twenty Indians suffer from depression.

It is a common misconception and stigma related to Mental Health. A physical illness, e.g. malaria, heart failure, arthritis, etc. requires proper treatment from a physician to get better. Similarly a mental illness, whose symptoms are at times not very obvious and ignored, but are as disabling as any physical illness, also requires proper guidance and treatment.

FALSE
There are various modalities of treatment for mental health disorders which include medications (pharmacotherapy), Counselling and psychotherapy which may be used singly or in combination. The modality of treatment required, varies from patient to patient and the severity of the illness. In certain illnesses, just therapy may even suffice.

NO
Psychiatric medications are not addictive. Medications help in the gradual correction of neurochemical imbalance in the various centers in Brain.This is achieved by regular, supervised intake of the medications in the prescribed manner. Few mental illnesses require long term treatment just like other physical illness like Hypertension and Diabetes mellitus.